Cultural Perspective on Reggae, or Thoughts of a White Guy from California

[Slugger]

Greetings Fellow Roots Lovers,

I've been trolling this site for the better part of a year now, learning about the genre as well as general opinions regarding such controversies as "who burned down the Black Ark?" and my personal favorite: "is Augustus Pablo overrated?" (For the record, my vote is no).

I'm sure this sentiment has been shared on this forum before, but it is one that I am curious to share with other reggae enthusiasts who may or may not share my perspective, as I am a white guy from California.

I suppose reggae has been popular in this part of the world since Bob hit the pop charts in the early '80s. I personally discovered the genre this way. While reggae is by no means the only genre of music that captures my attention (I am also quite obsessed with pre and post-War blues music), it is the genre that I continually collect and dedicate the most time to (both in listening and educating.)

Today I received my latest LP re-issue order from EBs, which contained Culture's Africa Stand Alone, Kayaweh's Culture Rock, Jah Lion's Colombia Colly and Abyssinians' Satta. A joyous day indeed. As I take in the wondrous sight and sound of these fresh vinyl beauties, it once again dawns on me how RELIGIOUS this music is-- so much love and spirit dedicated to the divine spirit/Ethiopian ruler.

Yet here I am, a mostly non-religious white American in my late 20s with no portraits of lions or Haile Sellasie in my apartment. I don't even smoke pot anymore. But I love the music.

Which leads me to this general thesis: I think great art manifests from great hardship. People that live in the face of oppression and struggle often become true champions of the human spirit: the will to unite, stand up, fight, rebel, inspire, and achieve. Mix this social condition with the sounds and rhythms of Africa, and what do you get: blues, reggae, jazz (and by extension hip-hop/rock n' roll/all contemporary popular music).

Yes, a good portion of roots reggae is religious in subject matter, but it is also about so much more (see above), and I think this is a big reason why we all love the music.

In the end I suppose I'm just another human on this planet who feels some kind of connection to good, honest music. The backbeat and thunderous bassline just happens to do it for me. How this music came to be or why I choose to listen to it is really irrelevant. The fact is that it helps me experience the world in a more intimate and joyful way.

Thanks for allowing me to share those thoughts.

Peace from California

[Mick Sleeper]

The fact is that it helps me experience the world in a more intimate and joyful way.

That is all that matters. The colour of your skin or the lack of Selassie portraits on your wall has absolutely nothing to do with it. Keep on enjoying your reggae!

[Gabranth]

Beautiful first post, Slugger. Welcome to the forum. We reggae lovers can be somewhat narrow minded sometimes, but most of us are good people. Irie

[Rocker Johnny]

Interesting post.

I'm also white and I think its irrelevant. There are forces against each other in this world and people that think its about color or what you call your God I think are going the wrong way.

I always loved reggae myself. Since I heard it the first time. At first it was bob and it was of course the 80ths versions that was more commercial. I wasn't sold on this but liked it. Then I heard some adidas or other sneakers commercial on MTV like 15 years ago that featured a rasta dude and a reggae song in background and I loved it. There was also a milk commercial here in sweden featuring rockers rock with pablo and I loved that song. I was around 14 at this time. I knew nothing of artists or reggae history and noone I knew did either (only bob). A friend managed to get an album of napster called (Dub Chill Out) containing dubs from Lee, Jammy, Tubby etc. I loved it and wanted more but at this time it was very hard to find reggae. Nothing in stores here in sweden. Nothing on radio. And where to start on internet, I had no idea. It took a long time before I found Lee Perry's golden age stuff, niney, rocksteady, uroy, dillinger etc etc. But the music has continually grown on me since I heard those first rockers songs and dubs.

As for religion. I am very religious and I believe in God but I do not think I share the views of most people when it comes to religion. I do share many of the rasta values. I especially like the quote uroy often sings "Live the life you love and love the life you live".
I do not believe Selassie = Jesus. Selassie = Gods son might be true though (how can I judge that?)

Reggae is spiritual and soulful I think cause people who made it have great faith. If you feel it you can also express it. And faith comes from trials which many of these artists have been through plenty. That's not to say we all don't suffer trials cause we all do. For me reggae gives me strength and will to carry on fighting and overcome.

[JordanJboy]

basslines basslines basslines basslines

[Rocky VIII]

often, during adolescence, white kids identify with a certain image of 'blacks'. it is because they reject the culture they have been brought up in.
Whereas for actual black people being black is a destiny, something that comes with hardship, with a hard price to pay, something they can not shake off and did not choose, and from that position comes the interesting, fascinating 'black identity' that the 'rebellious' white kid envies.
But the difference is clear: for the white kid it is just an image that is adapted, one that he can take or leave as he wishes. there is nothing at stake. in the end, it's a pose.
this is not directed at anyone personally.

[Siegi]

often, during adolescence, white kids identify with a certain image of 'blacks'. it is because they reject the culture they have been brought up in.
Whereas for actual black people being black is a destiny, something that comes with hardship, with a hard price to pay, something they can not shake off and did not choose, and from that position comes the interesting, fascinating 'black identity' that the 'rebellious' white kid envies.
But the difference is clear: for the white kid it is just an image that is adapted, one that he can take or leave as he wishes. there is nothing at stake. in the end, it's a pose.
this is not directed at anyone personally.

You are missing the point of the first post. It is about music, not the pose. He stated he didnt identify with anybody, race, culture or religion just with honest music. So he said the contrary. His story also applies to me.

Btw I respect your opinion.